Ferris my feral just turned

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

WOOHOO!

Got a pair of feral trapped kittens about 2 weeks ago. There is a HUGE difference from getting them wild from 6-8 weeks and 8-10 weeks of age. I estimate these two as about 9-10 weeks when I got them. Their eyes had turned from blue and they were both defensive and scared, both hissing and one growling and going to scratch.

One (Ferris) just now went from feral to house cat. Purring like a big car engine and rolling on his back to be rubbed all over. I haven't held him yet but the rest is all cake with a 11-12 week old kitten. It's that initial "people.....I LOVES people" thing. His reward will be out of the rather large cage to roaming at times in my rather small office later in the week.

This is why I do rescue and foster. That moment of "got it". Worth more than any big contract to me. Of course "got it" does not pay my rent.

Bueller is another story. A much harder case. I may not be able to turn him. Off to a good qualified barn home if I can't. They are brothers I stand a chance.

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

Best of luck to you with Bueller.

We've tamed some feral cats, and my sister has a few someone else had trapped; so far they've all decided that at least some humans are worth hanging out with. I do think they "learn" from other cats that humans are okay; I think that's why my sister's done as well as she has with hers. And of course siblings are going to be attuned to each other anyhow. So I'm hopeful.

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

well done!

[BWolf Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BWolf]

Very good job.

We have Rubeus and Sirius. Sirius hangs with our eldest cat Simba, and lets us pick him up once in a while. Rubeus loves his food and treats, rubbing legs and begging, but holding is another matter. He spends most of the daylight hours under our bed.

[pkyorkbeach Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pkyorkbeach]

What a great job. An ah ha moment for the kitten. It is very nice of you to rescue these little beauties.

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

Love it!!!! Hope B. is as smart as F. and realizes he can have love too!

[LisaH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LisaH]

Love the names for these two cats! Hope Bueller will eventually turn around as well.
Stupid question: are they potty trained at this time or do you need to train them later?

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

They'll probably get new names when they get their forever homes but I have to call them something. I have 2 permanent cats. Cougar was a "bottle baby" and Shiloh spent 7 months in a pet shop being cared for but never played with. The kittens see them coming in and out for affection or just to lay on my desk as a good example of what "could be".

When they are in the 10 week range I use the divide and conquer method. They are in large cages on tables on opposite sides of my office which if I'm in a good mood could be 10x10. That is where I spend the majority of my time so that is where I park the fosters. They have gotten used to vacuuming and music (sometimes played at high volumes) my voice, phones ringing, other people, my dancing around just for the hell of it.

Kittens are naturally potty trained I guess. Have never had an issue with it.

[Presley Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Presley]

Congrats! That is very rewarding.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Awesome, and I love the names too! Good luck with Bueller. I'll be he comes around too.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Of our four ferals, we got our latest as a kitten, cuz we both got tired of driving past him when was laying in the moddle of the road.

Yeah, he is most-laid back, friendliest, not having to overcome the learned fear, but all four of them, and our rescue/dumped dog are often all in bed with me, and we often all go for a walk together. Me, 80-pound dog, and four cats.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Well I finally gave up and handed Bueller over to someone else. After 3 weeks in my office, 6 feet from my desk chair that cat still had nothing but growls and hisses for me. I don't give up easily. This one is probably the second that has had a major personality conflict with me in 6 years. I could tell right away he was a different cat for the woman I handed him over to on Saturday. It happens. I hope she can turn him.

Meanwhile back at the ranch; Ferris is a total mush. Major lap cat. Has the run of the entire office now and maybe in a week or so can go out for adoption days. Maybe get the run of the house as well. Although, there are big possessive cats out there that generally do not take all that kindly to kittens. Won't hurt them but will cuss 'em out and don't give up bed space easily.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Of our four ferals, we got our latest as a kitten, cuz we both got tired of driving past him when was laying in the moddle of the road.

Yeah, he is most-laid back, friendliest, not having to overcome the learned fear, but all four of them, and our rescue/dumped dog are often all in bed with me, and we often all go for a walk together. Me, 80-pound dog, and four cats.

Your post made me chuckle. One of my chores as a kid was to walk my mother's wire haired fox terrier at night. My tuxedo cat would follow us through the shrubberies the entire way around that long block in Queens, NY. I miss that cat. She lived to nearly 21.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Cats are so amazing. Will they let you know how Bueller is doing? I hope so. Keep up the good work, Lawren. It is very rewarding and even more so when the family, who adopted the kitten, will stay in touch with you and keeps sending you pictures of the kitten once it is grown up.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Lawren, every time I see the title of this thread I think the cat TURNED ON YOU! As in, I think this feral cat attacked you! (Or else the Twilight interpretation--it turned into a vampire.) I have to do a double-think every time the thread pops up.